Issues Under Fire: Awarding American Sniper Would Have Sent the Wrong Message

This is Nothing to be Proud of

Issues Under Fire: Awarding American Sniper Would Have Sent the Wrong Message 

While this writer must admit not seeing American Sniper, nor any of the other Oscar nominated productions this year, somehow it was comforting to see Hollywood elect to award the most coveted prize to a concept other than the glorification of war. These are difficult times to say the least, and awarding the Oscar for best picture, director, best male actor or any other major category to American Sniper could have sent a horribly mixed message to the international community. 

Watching the most lethal U.S. Navy SEAL blasting "Bad Guys" and saving team members may have gone over big time in American theaters, but in many spaces around the globe, some might find the film enraging. From another perspective, Mr. Kyle killed hundreds of Muslims. From the Muslim's perspective. Mr. Kyle was killing people who were defending their country and culture. From their perspective, Mr. Kyle was a member of invading aggressors. From this writer's perspective, making and releasing this movie was a bad idea. 

Some people could get the idea Americans embraces violence. Some people could get the idea Americans enjoy sitting in the theater munching on popcorn guzzling high caloric beverages and cheering the killing of people who don't look, live and worship like Americans. Some people could get the idea America is a nation of eager warmongers, with twisted principles.

Considering terror groups like ISIS, Al Qaeda and now Al Shabab are openly competing for Western youth to join their brand of Islamic Jihad, the last thing the United States should be doing is celebrating how skillfully and efficiently its military kills Muslims. With terror's ever expanding reach and the West's inability to determined the number of lone wolves Jihadist groups have influenced worldwide, its probably not the best time for deifying "America's Top Muslim Killers". 

The fact that Americans flocked en masse to experience violence wrapped in heroism being directed primarily at Muslims, supports the ISIS narrative, that the West is waging a holy war against them. Heaping praise on a film like this during these incendiary times can only inflame conditions globally. Films like American Sniper will justify ISIS fanatics in the eyes of wannabes, as they parade captives in cages around before beheading or burning them alive. 

Bottom line: While any reasonable person understands force is necessary to engage a foe from time to time, the wise person realizes its best not to advertise one's mean and methods of said force. Young, impressionable Muslims and Western converts might be more easily swayed by the fanatical recruiter's pitch after viewing a movie like American Sniper. Hey, just something to think about. Podcast Below!